Wimbledon tennis star Ross Hutchins has targeted the US Open in August for his return to action after being diagnosed with cancer.

The 27-year-old, due to start chemotherapy this week, announced on Twitter that he would be “away from tennis for a while” as he begins his fight against Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

However, one of the first people he told was his best and trusted friend Andy Murray, who tearfully dedicated his Brisbane International win last week to Hutchins saying: “I’d like to dedicate this victory to one of my best friends. He’s back home watching – you’re going to get through it.”

Hutchins, a former pupil at King’s College School, told the Wimbledon Guardian: “The treatment is likely to last about six months, but I am eager to get back playing as soon as possible.

"I am looking at September or October, but the US Open is a big target.

"Treatment of cancer has improved so much over the past 20 years that I have every confidence I will overcome this.”

He added: “Getting the news was obviously difficult to take, but the support from family and friends has been immense."